The Angel

The shortcomings of previous surrealist films have been overcome by Bokanowski: while before, in fragments of subconscious symbols, no meaning could be found (which is always foreign until the dream that Bokanowski films becomes your own - otherwise, you have to make your own film) and at best, there was only a mere external impression of the beauty of imaginary images. Here, thanks to the extended runtime, the original mixture of fragmented symbols is stretched, and as a result, each fragment is given enough space to develop its own point. The whole may still not have a single point, but now at least the individual paragraphs have their own points. Furthermore, Bokanowski already detaches himself from figurative representation in some places and interweaves his work with refreshing abstractions of light and shadow, which complement other more visual rather than film techniques: many sequences deliberately transform into a painterly product, linocut, or even a work at the intersection of book illustration and puppet film. However, he does not resign from cinematography - not only are the graphics set in motion, but also dreams, which, after all, are not static... (12/17/2015)